The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-12-24
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than Mr.. Fields pen-wiper or Mr.. Her
yey's blotting-case or the little whsk broom
holder that she had worked for young Mere
dith. She wouldn't hang it on the tree
like the rest of the presents. She would
surround it with little atmosphere of
mystery. And then, perhaps. il the gift
and the manner of giving it pleased him.
and he should speak ont from the fullness
of his heart
After all, if he really loved her, why did
MT lie say so? She wondered, with rod
dened cheeks and prettily arched eyebrows
if he expected her to fling herself, unaskcd,
into his arms. She didn't. know what
young men were coming to, nowadays!
II only she could have known how. in his
secret heart, poor young Gilbert Gray was
longing for word, a look the merest ges
ture of encouragement If she coud have
understood how his hopes were dying down
into emberless ashes.
But on Christmas Eve he found a little
-.----.-y-..a..,, =,
the pocket Of his overcoat- He read it
eagerly
"lf you want Your Christmas present,
you must come to the Old Mill for ii at nine
o'clock.-H. p"
His heart leaped joyfully up. There was
no mstaking the pretty, spidery scrawl of
Hetty's writing "a style of caligraphy
which, although it would have proved fatal
to the prospects of bank clerk, was yet
considered quite the proper thing for the
daughter of the bank prcsiden'. How in
consistent people are in this world, to be
sure.
''Where is the place they call the OH
Mill?'' he asked of Junius Field, who was
yawning on his high stool at the adjoining
window.
"Have you meyer seen it?" said yonng
Field. "Its the old stone ruin down by
the brook. Miss Ployer goes there some.
times to sketch. 1t used to be the play
room for the Plover children before they
died, or married, all of 'em. T'ye heard say
that at Christmas time, the presents used
to be hung up there"
Gilbert said nothing more. lie did not
even express surprise or chagrin when
Henry triumphanty displayed his blotting-
case, and Field eXulted oyer his pen-wiper.
He somehow understood Hetty's message
as conveying an atmosphere of especial
favor. She was willing, evidently to as
sociate him with the sweet memories of her
childhood days. How could he be grateful
enough to her?
And as the hands of the old clock trav-
eled toward nine upon that windy, bolster
Gus Christmas eye, he mullled himself up
and started on his walk to the Old Mill.
Overhead the pines moaned and rocked
and seemed TO wiring their shadowy hands
the frozen brook uttered no sound. Here
and there snowflake eddied through the
chill air; but in Gilbert Gray's heart the
golden star OF the Christmas-tidc was flood
ing everything with lighs.
Hetty Plover had finished decorating the
house. She had hung up the last wreath
of Ivy, labeled the final present, flied the
last red stockings of the stableman's child,
and put up packages of tea and sugar for
the two feeble old women at the toll gate;
and now, last of all, she had hurried down
to the Old Mil, singing as she went, 10 put
Gilbert Gray's gift on the old wooden
mantel.
How pretty it looked. Would he be
pleased, she wondered. Would he value
the slippers all the more because her hands
had worked them?
1t was some time before she had got them
arranged TO suit her fancy, and finally she
was startled to hear the bell in the village
church-tower Ginning nine.
She wrapped her shawl around her head
CONSERVATION, the rusty old latch OH the
outside had settled down into its socket,
and, let her strive as she would, she could
not lift it up again.
With crimsoned cheeks and beating
heart, she stood listening for the nearer
coming footsteps which she already heard
on the frozen ground outside.
Her little lamp burned steadily on the
table; there was no sound save her own
hurried breathing.
"What will he think?" she murmurcd
half aloud. "JVhat will he say?"
In an instant, as it were, the strong hand
of Gilbert Gray had forced up the rusty
latch, and he stood before her.
But, to her dsmay, he never looked at
the pre- ty gift, so carefully displayed on the
mantle. lie saw only the slight, lovely
figure, shrinking so gracefully to one side.
"Miss PloYer-IIettYw he cried. sob,
my darling, my treasure! was this what You
meant? DO you really love me, Hettyr'
"No." faltered IIetty-''Yes-tha isl
don't know. Oh, let me goawayr'
"IIettyr
lie had taken her in his arms, but his
clasp loosened at her words; an anguished
pallor crept over his face.
Hetty held out her hands.
yes" she said bravelY, Il do love you,
Gilbert, Only, only"
"There is no such Il word as only" said
the loYer. "lIct'y,my treasure-my Christ
mas gift"
And in after years, in spite of all her
logic, Hetty meyer could convince her hus-
band that it was not herself that she meant
to bestow on him that auspicious Christ
mas Eye. Or at least so he declared; and
at last she gave up the point.
''What does it NATTER" she said, $50
long as we are happy l-so. long as every
Christmas is a merry Christmas TO us?"
Jenkins" said one travelling man to
another one rainy day, "have you got an
umbrella?'
"Yes."
"Will you lend il to me?''
mo, won't"
"Why not?,'